Truckers call off strike in Telangana

Hyderabad, June 25 (IANS) Truck owners in Telangana on Thursday called off their indefinite strike following an assurance by the state government to consider their demands.

The breakthrough came during the talks between Telangana Lorry Owners’ Association (TLOA) and transport minister Mahender Reddy and other ministers.

The ministers promised to constitute a committee of officials to look into the lorry owners’ demands.

More than 3.5 lakh trucks on Wednesday went off the roads in Telangana, affecting the movement of goods.

The strike hit supply of essential commodities and vegetables in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana.

The lorry owners were asking Telangana government to slash tax in view of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Their argument is that since quarterly tax of Rs.7,000 was fixed for vehicles to ply across 23 states in the undivided states, the Telangana government should reduce the tax.

The other major demand of the truck operators was for a single permit agreement between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh so that vehicle can play between the two states on payment of a fixed tax.